A fresh take on the classic Twelve Days of Christmas, this adorable story is bounding with humor, playfulness, and disastrous fun for the holiday! Each day leading to Christmas, a very sneaky puppy takes things from around the house to give to his owner as gifts. That trouble-making dog tears the Christmas lights from the evergreen tree and steals mittens! This catchy, sing-song poem progresses from mishap after mishap—empty stockings, rumpled wrapping paper, and cookies crumbled under the tree. How can one little puppy, full of five pounds of love, be so naughty?

A clever, humorous take on a traditional carol, the story will have you laughing out loud, hugging your little one tight, and sneaking a sideways peek at your own pup. My Puppy Gave to Me is the perfect addition to any classroom or holiday reading unit; it could used for art, poetry, or counting lessons. Whether at school or at home, reading this adorable story will put you and your children in the Christmas spirit!

About the Author A retired teacher, Cheryl Dannenbring received her BA in elementary and special education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls and her MEQ in teaching emotional and behavioral disorders from the University of Minnesota. She has written one previous children’s book with a focus on animals. The inspiration for My Puppy Gave to Me came from a writing-group session and from her own canine experiences. She had a dog that ate a whole table of decorated gingerbread men! Dannenbring enjoys traveling to Iceland, where she has family and friends. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota, with her husband.

About the Illustrator Illustrator Cynthia Kremsner is a self-taught artist with a love of music and animals. She studied at Santa Rosa Junior College and has worked with highly respected artists Salina Yoon and Cyndi Marko to improve her skills. Kremsner is the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrator’s illustrator coordinator for the Nevada region. She lives in Sparks, Nevada, with her two children, her husband, two basset hounds, one lab, one cockatiel, and one large lizard.

You’re going to love what’s beneath your tree this year . . . mostly. In the new book My Puppy Gave to Me by Cheryl Dannenbring, illustrated by Cynthia Kremsner, there are some presents you can probably live without. There’s a new puppy in the house...

One Mischievous Pup!

Rushville Republican - 12/23/2014

He [the puppy] didn’t mean get into the holly, for instance, but it happened. He didn’t mean to rip and rumple all the wrapping paper, but he surely did mean to steal the Christmas cookies, because that happened, too.